Flying-machine



VI MATTIVI.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 4. 1920.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inv animi Vigili n Matt 1v1 ML150 gf El Atimirie V. MATTIVII FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION msu ocT.4, 1920.

Nln.

Attmrma 5 V. MATTIVL FLYING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN msn ocT. 4. m2o.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inv Entnr ih n Mattv'l V. MATTIVI.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, 1920.

1,389,959. Punasept. 6,1921.

'IET g 5 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Invenimp Vgll'n Mattlvl AttmllS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIGILIO MATTIVI, OF'WALSENBURGQCOLORADQ ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH' BRUNELLI AND ON E-THIRDTO GEORGE DICKJ BOTH OF WALSENBURG, COLORADO.

' FLYING-MACHINE.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application led October 4, 1920. Serial No. 414,627.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIGILIo MAr'rIvI, a citizen of the .United States, residing at Valsenburg, in the county of Huerfano and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying- Machines, of which .the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to flying machines and the primary object of the invention is to provide van improved aeroplane, which is so constructed that the same can hover, descend, and ascend in a vertical plane, as well as fly ina horizontal plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane having an improved wing construction, arranged so as to move in relation to the fuselage of the machine and so constructed that air will be caught thereunder for raising the machine when the'sanie are moved downwardly and that air will be permitted to escape Ytherethrough when the same are moved upwardly and thereby eliminate pressure on the uppersurface thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for operating the wings, so as to transmit a napping movement thereto similar to the motion of a bird wing, whereby the machine is permitted to ascend or descend in a vertical plane. A still further object of the Vinvention is to provide an improved wing construction embodying a plurality of valves, which are adaptedY to open'when the wings are being moved upwardly, so as to permit air to escape therethrough and thus reduce resistance on the upper surface thereof and adapted to close when the wings are moved downwardly for catching the air thereunder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for constructing the wings, so that when any part thereof becomes damaged, a new part or section can be substituted therefor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined rudder and elevator, which is so constructed, that the same can be effectively used for guiding the machine in ascending and descending and for turning the same to the right Aor left.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of landing gear for the improved aeroplane, whereby the shock incident to landing will be effectively absorbed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved aeroplane of the above character, which is durable and efficient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

lVith these and other objects in View, the Invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which drawings,

Figure l is a top plan view of the improved flying machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing part of the machine section. l

Fig. e is a transverse vertical section through the improved machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the improved machine.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frame construction for one of the wings.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the frame.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through one of the sections forming the wing.

Fig.v 9 is a transverse section through Fig. 8 taken on the line 9-9 thereof.

Fig. l0 is a large fragmentary vertical section through the wing, showing the valves arranged therein for permitting the escape of air through the wings, when the wings are moving upwardly and for catching the air under the wings, when the wings are being moved downwardly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved flying machine, which includes the fuselage B, the wings C and D, the operating means E, the steering means F, and the landing gear G.

The body B is preferably torpedo shaped and can be formed of sheet metal or the like and is provided at its forward end, with a bearing bracket ll, for the propeller shaft l2, which carries the Atractor propeller 13. The rear end of the body is provided with a bearing bracket 14, for the steering mechanism F, which will be hereinafter more specifically described.

The wings C and D are arranged on the Opposite sides of the fuselage B and each are constructed 'identically the same and are substantially circular in plan. These wings can be made in any desired manner, and as shown consists of a hub 15, and the radially extending arms 16. The arms have their upper surfaces arranged in a horizontalr per and lower skinsare connected by side 'plates 21. These triangular shaped wing sections 18 may be secured between the arms 16 or may be providedwith central radially extending bores 22, through which the arms are adapted to extend. lThe arms are then bolted thereto in any preferred manner. When the wing sections 18 are connected to thearms 16 in the above described manner,

one of the side plates 21 are provided Vwith -openings 23, while the opposite sides are provided with lugs 24 and it can be seen that the lugs 24 onv one of the wing sections 18 are adapted to it within the openings 23 in the next adjacent wing section. The upperand lower skin 19 and 20 of eachof the wing sections are provided with a plurality of openings 26 and 27, which form valve seats, on which circular flap valves 28 and 29 are adapted to seat. These valves 28 and 29 are so arranged in relation to their seats 26 and 27 that when the wings are being moved downwardly, that the valves will sit on their seats and thereby prevent the exit of air therethrough, but when the same are being raised, the valves will be moved off of their seat and thus permit the air to ride through these wings. Each of the valves 28 and 29 are provided with guards 30 and stems 31 on which the valves slide. When all of the wing sections 18 are in assembled position, a substantially circular wing is formed and the sections are so shaped that the upper surface of the wings will be flat, while the lower surface thereof will be convex. p

Each of the wings C and D are provided with a diametrically extending shaft 32, which is secured to suitable depending brackets 38 carried by certain of the arms 16. This shaft 32 is rotatably mounted upon outwardly extending standards 34 which are carried by the opposite sides of the fuselage B. These standards 34 are bolted or otherwise secured to the side of the fuselage. Each of the wings C and D are provided at their axes with depending crank arms 35 which have their lower terminals slotted as at 36 for the pitman rods 37 and the pitman rods 37 have their outer endssecured to the crank arms 35 by suitable pivot pins or the like 38. The pitma-n rods 37 extend through suitable slots in the sides ofthe fuselage B and are connected "to the outer ends ofthe crank arms 40 of the crank shaft 41. It can thus be seen that when the crank shaft 41 is rotated, that the wings C 'and D willfbe swung on the shafts 32. Y

. The operating means E includes a pair of motors 42 and 43 which are located adj acent to the opposite ends ofthe fuselage B and these motors may be of anypreferred type, such as internal combustion engines or the like. V

The engine 42 has its crank shaft operatively connected with the propeller shaft 12 and is rovided for driving the propeller shaft. 'llhe opposite end of this crank shaft of the engine 42 is provided with a relatively small gear wheel 44 the purpose of which will be hereinafter more specically des scribed. The crank shaft of the engine 43 is provided with a relatively large gear wheel 45 and the crank shaft 41 has keyed thereto a relatively small gear wheel 46 which is adapted to mesh with theV gear wheel 45. The opposite end o-f the crank shaft 41 is also provided vwith a relatively large gear wheel 47, which is adapted to be brought into meshwith the relatively small gear wheel 44. Means is provided for bringing either one of the gea-r wheels 46 and 47 into mesh with the gear wheel 45 or the gear wheel 44, so that if trouble occurs with one engine, the other engine can be relied on and owing to the different diameters of the gear wheels 44l and .47 a good speed of the propeller can also be obtained. The shaft 41 for o-perating the wings C and D is secured in the fuselage B, by suitable bear ings 50, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The guiding means F for the improved aeroplane consists of a rudder or elevator plate, 51, which is preferably formed of iexible resilient material such as sheet metal or the like and has secured to `its inner end the horizontally disposed `steering Yshaft 52, which is mounted in the bearing brackets 14. The inner end of the shaft 52 is provided with hand wheel 53, by means of which the plate 51 can be either moved to la. horizontal plane or a vertical plane. This is arranged in the foregoing manner, so that the plate 51 may be either used as aA rudder or as an elevator and means 54 is provided for flexing the plate 51, so as to move the same to the right or left when being used as a rudder or moved up and down, when being used as an elevator. As shown the means` for flexing the plate 51 includes a pair of oppositely disposed ropes or cables 55 the inner ends of which terminate in hand grips 56, whereby the cables can be actuated. The outer ends of the cables 55 are turned around pulleys 57 which are carried bythe `outer edge of the plate 51 adjacent to its opposite sides. The outer end of thel cables 55 are then secured as at 58to the plate 51 adjacent to its inner edge. Y f

In operation of the improved steering and elevating mechanism, when it is desired to steer the plane, the wheel 53 is moved, so as to position the plane 51 in a vertical plane and when it; is desired to turn to the right or left either one of the cables 55 are actuated, which will shorten the length thereof and thus flex or bend the plate 51 to the right or left, and thus turn the machine. Vhen it is desired to use the same as an elevator, the wheel 53 is turned until the plate 51 is positioned in a horizontal plane and when it is desired to ascend or descend, one of the ropes 55'is operated so as to flex or bend the plate either up or down.

The landing gear G includes a pair of front legs 60, a pair of rear legs 61. These legs are provided with inwardly extending angular terminals 62 and are pivoted at their angles to suitable standards or brackets 63, which are bolted or riveted to the opposite sides of the fuselage B, rllhe lower terminals of the legs 60 and 61 are provided with resilient fingers 64 which are in the nature of leaf springs, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The free angular terminals of the legs are connected to the lower ends of coil springs 65 and these coil springs have their upper terminals secured to the lower surface of the fuselage B and tend to absorb shock transmitted to the legs 60 an-d 61 when the machine is making a landing.

In operation of the improved flying machine, the motors 42 and 43 are started and the gear wheel 46 is moved into meshing engagement with the gear wheel 45, which starts the crank shaft 41 rotating. The crank shaft in turn transmits this movement to the wings C and D, which are rocked on the shafts 42. It can be seen that the halves of the wings which are being lowered, will have the valves thereof closed, while the halves of thewings, which are moving up- Awardly will have their valves open. This will effectively raise the machine off of the ground and permit the same to hover over any preferred spot or place. IVhen it is desired to move forwardly the propeller shaft 12 is connected to the crank shaft of the engine 42, which will effectively drive the shaft 12 of propeller 13 and thus draw the machine through the air. The course of the same isv controlled, by the steering means F, heretofore described. It can be seen that when the machine lands vertically on the ground, that the legs 60 and 61 will be swung upwardly in opposite directions and expand the contractile coil spring 65, which will effectively absorb the shock of landing, The spring fingers 64 also tend to reduce the landing shock.

i Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is,

1. -A- flying machine comprising a body, a pair of disk shaped wings carried by the op posite sides of the body, means for rocking the wings in relation to the body on centrally disposed shafts, and valves carried by said wings arranged to open when said wings are being moved upwardly and arranged to close when the wings are being moved downwardly.

2. A flying machine comprising a body, a propeller, a pair of disk shaped wings carried by the propeller, and means for oscillating the wings in relation to the body on pivots located at the central portion of the wings.

3. A flying machine comprising a body, standards carried by the opposite ends of the body, a shaft carried by the standards, a pair of wings arranged on the opposite sides of the body and mounted on said shafts for rocking movement, the shafts being arranged at the central portion of the wings, and in parallel reation with the body, a crank shaft carried by the body, means for operating the crank shaft, and means for operatively con` necting said wings with said crank shaft.

4. A flying machine comprising a body, a pair of outwardly extending standards carried by the opposite sides of the body, a shaft carried by each pair of the standards, a disk shaped wing located on each side of the body, means connecting each wing to each shaft for rocking movement, depending arms carried by the wings, a crank shaft arranged in the body, means for operating the crank shaft, and pitman rods connecting said crank shaft with said arms.

5. A flying machine comprising a body, a pair of outwardlyV extending arms, carried by the opposite sides of the body, shafts carried by said arms, wings rockably mounted upon said shafts, depending arms formed upon said wings, a crank shaft arranged within said body, means for operating said crank shaft, pitman rods connecting said crank shaft and arms, and valves arranged in said wings and adapted to open when the wings are being raised and adapted to close, when the wings are being lowered.

6. In a flying machine, a wing including an upper skin and a lower skin, Va plurality of valve seats formed in each of said skins, and valves adapted to fit upon said seats.

7. An aeroplane wing comprising a disk shaped body including upper andV lower skins having a plurality of alined seats formed therein, disk shaped valves arranged to lit upon said seats, and common guides for said valves.

8. A Wing for aeroplanes comprising a frame including a hub and a plurality of radially extending arms, a plurality of triangular shaped Wing sections adapted t0`be 5 detachably connected to said arms.

v 9.v A Wing construction for aerqplanes comprising a frame including a hub and a plurality` of radially extending arms, a plurality of triangular shaped sections, the sections having intertting dowelsrand recesses, the'sections also'being provided with radisaid arms.

v VGILIO MATTIVI ally extending bores for the reception ol? 

